Spell-binding photos tell fascinating story of 19th century Polish emigration to South America - and

[Judi Lynn]

Spell-binding photos tell fascinating story of 19th century Polish emigration to South America - and of their modern-day descendants


ANNE CHATHAM OCTOBER 03, 2023

A photography project by two cousins offers an intimate portrait of the Polish diaspora in South America, past and present.

The Polish diaspora contains 20 million people globally. While the Polish community in North America continues to have a strong visibility, people know less about the one in South America.



The photographs range from present-day images of vibrant green jungle to yellowed documents and photographs from the 19th century.
Katarzyna Wasowska and Marianne Wasowska

Many Poles emigrated to South America in the 19th Century and early 20th Century, often because of the economic, demographic and political situation in partitioned Poland.

The waves of Polish emigration to Brazil even became known as “gorączka brazylijska” (Brazilian fever).

Using this combination of images, they tell the little-known story of the Poles who emigrated to South America, from their identity to their relationship with their new home.
Katarzyna Wasowska and Marianne Wasowska

These days, Curitiba in Brazil is among the “most Polish” cities in the world, with as many as 400,000 people with Polish roots.

In their ongoing project “Waiting for the Snow”, cousins Katarzyna and Marianne Wasowska offer an intimate portrait of the 19th century Polish emigration to Brazil and Argentina, where there is also a sizeable diaspora.

Using this combination of images, they tell the little-known story of the Poles who emigrated to South America, from their identity to their relationship with their new home.
Katarzyna Wasowska and Marianne Wasowska

These days, Curitiba in Brazil is among the “most Polish” cities in the world, with as many as 400,000 people with Polish roots.

In their ongoing project “Waiting for the Snow”, cousins Katarzyna and Marianne Wasowska offer an intimate portrait of the 19th century Polish emigration to Brazil and Argentina, where there is also a sizeable diaspora.



More:
https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/spell-binding-photos-tell-fascinating-story-of-19th-century-polish-emigration-to-south-america---and-of-their-modern-day-descendants-13026

[MiHale]

1. My grandparents could'a went to South America?...

Never knew that, thanks Judi.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Same here! Somehow you never would expect it!

I think I've read Chicago is the 2nd largest Polish population outside Poland in the world!

Thank you.

[MiHale]

5. That's where they settled...Chicago still have tons of relatives there.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. I wish the article had included a link

Or perhaps more information or stories about these people. I’m half Polish and never knew so many Poles had emigrated to South America back then.

TY Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Here is is: it was hiding under the photo of the lady in the fur coat. (She may not have needed it!)

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/spell-binding-photos-tell-fascinating-story-of-19th-century-polish-emigration-to-south-america---and-of-their-modern-day-descendants-13026